Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
My little friends, lovers of magical bedtime stories, today we have a special story from Arab heritage. Its hero is a young man named Ali Baba, who suddenly finds himself facing forty thieves.
Let’s discover together the events of the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, a bedtime story for children from the book One Thousand and One Nights.
Ali Baba the Woodcutter
There lived in the city of Baghdad a simple woodcutter named Ali Baba. He went out every morning to collect firewood and sell it in the market.
Ali Baba had an older brother named Qasim Baba, who was ashamed of his brother’s poor situation, as Qasim Baba was one of the richest people in the city.
The Secret of the Mountain
One day, Ali Baba decided to go early to collect more firewood, so he went deeper into the forest until he reached a large rocky mountain.
While cutting firewood, he heard a loud noise and the neighing of horses coming toward him. Ali Baba became worried, so he climbed a tree to see what was happening.
Suddenly, a large group of horsemen carrying swords stopped in front of the mountain. Ali Baba counted them and found there were forty thieves.
Open Sesame
One of them got off his horse and shouted, “Open Sesame!”
The mountain split open, and a magical door appeared. The thieves entered, unloaded their goods, then came out. Their leader said, “Close, Sesame,” and the door closed.
After they left, Ali Baba climbed down and stood before the cave. He said, “Open Sesame,” and the door opened. Inside, he found a huge amount of treasure and jewels. He filled his pockets and returned home.
The Gold Measure
Marjana, Ali Baba’s wife, was surprised by his early return without firewood. When she asked him why, he told her to bring a gold measuring cup from his brother Qasim Baba.
When Marjana borrowed the cup, Qasim Baba’s wife became curious and told her husband. Qasim Baba grew jealous and decided to learn the secret of the treasure.
Qasim and the Magic Cave
Qasim Baba insisted on knowing the location of the cave. Before dawn, he went there with eleven mules and said, “Open Sesame.”
The cave opened, and he filled his bags with gold and diamonds. But when he tried to leave, he forgot the magic word. He said many wrong words but could not remember the right one.
Soon, the thieves returned, found Qasim Baba, and chained him.
Ali Baba Saves His Brother
Qasim’s wife became worried and told Ali Baba. He rushed to the cave, said the magic words, and freed his brother after a long struggle.
The two brothers escaped before the thieves returned. Later, Qasim Baba left the city, fearing revenge.
The Thieves’ Revenge Plan
The forty thieves sent spies to find the man who knew the cave’s secret. One spy learned about Ali Baba’s house and marked it.
Marjana noticed and marked all the doors the same way. Each time the thieves tried again, she outsmarted them.
The Jars of Oil
The leader of the thieves disguised himself as a merchant and hid his men inside forty jars. He went to Ali Baba’s house and asked for shelter.
Ali Baba welcomed him kindly. Marjana became suspicious, checked the jars, and discovered the plan.
Marjana’s Clever Trick
Marjana tricked the thieves, tied the jars, and later gave the leader a sleeping drink. Ali Baba then learned the truth and informed the Sultan.
The soldiers arrested the forty thieves and their leader.
A Happy Ending
Ali Baba later brought the treasure from the cave and shared it with the poor in Baghdad. Qasim Baba returned safely, and everyone lived in joy and peace.